Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Wednesday relieved Finance Minister Ishaq Dar of his duties after approving his 'leave of absence', reported local media.

Dar in a letter dispatched to the Prime Minister's Office had sought a 'leave of absence' citing health issues. He had requested “relief for now from looking after the three divisions”, according to the letter.

The Accountability Court Islamabad had on Tuesday initiated the process of declaring Dar a proclaimed offender and adjourned the case till December 24.

Accountability Court Judge Mohammad Bashir also issued a notice to Dar’s guarantor to explain his position on November 24 that why his surety bond of Rs5 million should not be forfeited.

On Tuesday, when the case was taken up in the accountability court , the defence counsel again moved an application seeking exemption for his client from personal appearance in the NAB reference on health grounds and also furnished a general power of attorney of Dar in the name of Rehan Rashid empowering him to appoint a representative on his behalf to face the trial.

The defence counsel further offered to the court that Dar would be available to join the trial on a video-link as his client was seriously ill and one of his heart arteries was blocked.

He informed the court that doctors have advised Dar to avoid air travel and his another medical check-up was scheduled for November 27.

The defence counsel further argued that despite the court order of November 8, the medical report of Dar could not be verified from the United Kingdom by the prosecution.

NAB Prosecutor Imran Shafique raised objections and said that the medical report was already dispatched to London for verification through proper channel and they were awaiting a reply.

He said that the medical certificate of Dar presented before the court was also not properly prepared and even failed to qualify the system prevalent in the UK.

The NAB prosecutor further argued that the accused was willfully avoiding the courtproceedings and prayed to the court to declare him a proclaimed offender .

The court accepting the plea of the prosecution directed to issue the summon orders through advertisements and directed that the process of declaring Dar proclaimedoffender should be completed in 10 days.

The court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Dar at last hearing.

The court has also issued a show-cause notice to Ahmad Ali Qadoos for November 24, who had furnished a surety bond of Rs5 million for securing the bail of Dar , directing him to explain that why the surety bond he had furnished should not be forfeited.

The NAB prosecutor also moved an application in the court seeking approval of the NAB chairman decision of freezing a couple of other properties appeared in the name of Dar in the assets beyond means corruption reference against him. The court after hearing the arguments on the application reserved the judgment.